The Wandering Jew — Volume 06 eBook

Mdlle. de Cardoville had truly remarked a complete
transfiguration in the countenance of Rodin.
This man, lately so harsh, severe, inflexible, with
regard to Dr. Baleinier, appeared now under the influence
of the mildest and most tender sentiments. His
little, half-veiled eyes were fixed upon Adrienne
with an expression of ineffable interest. Then,
as if he wished to tear himself from these impressions,
he said, speaking to himself, “Come, come, no
weakness. Time is too precious; my mission is
not fulfilled. My dear young lady,” added
he, addressing himself to Adrienne, “believe
what I say—­we will talk hereafter of gratitude—­but
we have now to talk of the present so important for
you and your family. Do you know what is taking
place?”

Adrienne looked at the Jesuit with surprise, and said,
“What is taking place, sir?”

“Do you know the real motive of your imprisonment
in this house? Do you know what influenced the
Princess de Saint-Dizier and Abbe d’Aigrigny?”

At the sound of those detested names, Mdlle. de Cardoville’s
face, now so full of happiness, became suddenly sad,
and she answered with bitterness, “It is hatred,
sir, that no doubt animated Madame de Saint-Dizier
against me.”

“Yes, hatred; and, moreover, the desire to rob
you with impunity of an immense fortune.”

“Me, sir! how?”

“You must be ignorant, my dear young lady, of
the interest you had to be in the Rue Saint-Francois
on the 13th February, for an inheritance?”

“I was ignorant, sir, of the date and details:
but I knew by some family papers, and thanks to an
extraordinary circumstance, that one of our ancestors—­”

“Had left an enormous sum to be divided between
his descendants; is it not so?”

“Yes, sir.”

“But what unfortunately you did not know, my
dear young lady, was that the heirs were all bound
to be present at a certain hour on the 13th February.
This day and hour once past, the absent would forfeit
their claim. Do you now understand why you have
been imprisoned here, my dear young lady?”

“Yes, yes; I understand it,” cried Mdlle.
de Cardoville; “cupidity was added to the hatred
which my aunt felt for me. All is explained.
Marshal Simon’s daughters, having the same right
as I had have, like me, been imprisoned.”

“And yet,” cried Rodin, “you and
they were not the only victims.”

“Who, then, are the others, sir?”

“A young East Indian.”

“Prince Djalma?” said Adrienne, hastily.

“For the same reason he has been nearly poisoned
with a narcotic.”

“Great God!” cried the young girl, clasping
her hands in horror. “It is fearful.
That young prince, who was said to have so noble and
generous a character! But I had sent to Cardoville
Castle—­”

“A confidential person, to fetch the prince
to Paris—­I know it, my dear young lady;
but, by means of a trick, your friend was got out of
the way, and the young Oriental delivered to his enemies.”